A new COVID workforce fund will be made available to support with costs of staff absences in schools and colleges.
The Department for Education has today (27 November) announced a new short-term COVID workforce fund for schools and colleges facing significant funding pressure, and will cover the costs of high levels of staff absences over a minimum threshold, to help ensure schools and colleges can remain open.
Eligible schools and colleges will be able to claim for costs backdated to 01 November, provided that they meet the relevant criteria, and will be able to claim for costs until the Christmas holidays.
Schools and colleges will be able to reclaim costs incurred over the course of the current half term, if they meet the following conditions:
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
“Keeping schools and colleges open is a national priority, which is why I am launching the COVID workforce fund, to support schools and colleges facing significant budget pressures and staff absences.
“This new funding comes on top of our funding for schools facing exceptional costs during the summer months, the £1 billion COVID catch up fund to help all children make up for lost learning, and the core school funding that is seeing the biggest increase in a decade.”
Detailed guidance on the application process is due to be published by GOV.UK shortly.